3 Days in Paraty: A Magical Weekend Getaway in Brazil

When most people think of Brazil, they think of grand cities and landscapes like Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, or Iguazu Falls. That’s exactly why Paraty stood out to me.

Smacked right in the middle between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, this colonial town’s quiet charms will have your introverted soul planning to come back within the first 15 minutes.

One of the most unforgettable weekends from my 3 months studying in Rio was spending 3 days in Paraty. I’m here to share the exact itinerary I followed to recharge, so you can have your soulful getaway too!

From fun dives into waterfalls like Pedra Branca and Tobogã, tasting Cachaça at top distilleries, to splurging on the most delicious local delicacies in the Historic Center, this plan has you covered!

My 3-Day Paraty Itinerary

The itinerary you’re about to see is exactly what I did and how I fell in love with Paraty.

I will also recommend some things that were on my list and that I wish I could do. Feel free to choose whatever sounds best to you!

Bring only a backpack for the weekend. If you have luggage, I recommend arriving the night before so you can fully maximize this itinerary.

A Quick History of Paraty: Brazil’s Colonial Gem

Paraty’s cobblestone streets and colorful buildings are fascinating on their own. But knowing the story behind them can immensely enhance your experience.

So here’s a very quick rundown of how Paraty came to be!

Paraty During the Gold Rush and Trading Era

Paraty first came onto the map at the beginning of the 19th century, when gold was discovered in the State of Minas Gerais.

The golds were then transported via a mountain route that led to the ports of Paraty, to be shipped via sea to the capital (then Rio de Janeiro). Paraty quickly became an important trading post, as well as a main food producer for inland cities.

The Decline and Cachaça Boom

With the arrival of the railroad that led from Minas Gerais directly to Rio de Janeiro, also called the New Route or Caminho Novo, the mountain route became obsolete.

The ports of Paraty became abandoned, and the city’s economy began collapsing.

Looking elsewhere for business, the locals came upon sugar cane exports to Europe, all the while using the plants to produce Cachaça, the base alcohol for Caipirinha, today Brazil’s National Drink.

Frozen in Time: Preservation Through Isolation

Paraty’s economy took a hit along with the rest of the world in the late 1920s.

With only port access and a lack of connection to other cities, the colonial town stopped developing and became frozen in its colonial state. Its population also declined.

This became a strength in disguise when the Rio-Santos stretch was constructed, providing outside access to Paraty for the first time in decades. Visitors were enchanted by a city frozen in time, its buildings and peaceful streets providing a serene escape.

Why Are the Streets Flooded?

The most famous image of Paraty is perhaps one of its colonial buildings reflected on flooded streets. Yes, the city streets are flooded quite often on purpose!

Centuries ago, it was designed to let the sea flood its stone-cobbled streets during high tide as a cleaning strategy. Today, that image of flooded streets has landed on thousands of paintings and postcards.

How I Spent 3 Days in Paraty

Let’s dive into the itinerary!

Wear sturdy, comfortable shoes. While the cobblestones make Paraty more charming, they can flip your ankles if you’re not careful enough or are in flip-flops.

Day 1: Cobblestones, Cachaça, and Waterfalls

Even over a hundred years later, Paraty is still nearly synonymous with the word Cachaça.

There are several famous distilleries around the area, with Paratiana and Engenho D’Ouro being the most respected ones. We’ll visit both today!

Stroll the Cobblestone Streets of the Historic Center

The first moments I arrived in Paraty were honestly the best ones. Exiting the bus terminal, I was immediately relaxed seeing this tiny little town with its 2-story buildings.

I started strolling toward the city center, taking in the vibe for 15 minutes, and then I saw it… the Historic Center.

It doesn’t matter how many hundred photos of it you’ve seen on the internet. Those do it no justice. I couldn’t believe how quiet it was in the early morning, too. Almost nobody is on the streets.

The few you’ll run into are scattered throughout the historic center, so you’ll find plenty of empty ones where you can take in its beauty in the morning light.

Morning Coffee at Café Café

I had a tour booked to go to the waterfalls and cachaça distilleries. So I decided to settle down and recharge with a cup of Brazilian Cappuccino while I waited for the tour at 11 AM.

Brazilian Cappuccino is different, y’all. First off, it’s sweet, so be prepared for that. I was a bit shocked the first time I tried it, but it completely grew on me during my 3 months in Brazil. Hah.

• Location: R. Com. José Luiz, 3 – Centro Histórico, Paraty – RJ, 23970-000
• Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays)
• This coffee shop is packed with sockets, an absolute phone-charging heaven.

Waterfalls and Cachaça Distilleries Tour

To maximize my weekend and avoid having to wait for local buses, I booked this jeep tour, which took me to two amazing waterfalls and two top Cachaça distilleries.

This company does small, more intimate tours, so it was perfect. There were 6 of us, enough to fit into one jeep, and we all became friends by the end.

We tasted so many cachaça flavors and ended up loving the corn one. Am I weird? 🤔 I didn’t think I’d like the corn flavor, but it was delicious.

One flavor you should never, EVER, skip is Gabriela. It is super sweet, with flavors of cinnamon and clove. The flavor was invented in Paraty as a homage to Jorge Amado’s novel, “Gabriela, Cravo e Canela.”

Free City Walking Tour

Getting back from the waterfalls, you should have just enough time to slowly walk over to Praça da Matriz, where you’ll join the Free Paraty Walking Tour.

The guides will be in T-shirts. The tour takes about 2 hours and gives you amazing insights into the city and its stories. Don’t forget to pre-book your spot!

Splurge on a Dinner at Banana da Terra

Finish off the first night with a foodie splurge at Banana da Terra. I love splurging at fancy restaurants once in a while, and this one was well worth it. Get ready to spend at least $R180.

• Location: R. Dr. Samuel Costa, 198 – Centro Histórico, Paraty – RJ, 23970-000
• Opening Hours: 12:00 – 4:00 PM, 7:00 PM – 12:00 AM
• Recommended Menu: Peixe com Banana (Fish with Banana, Paraty’s delicacy)

Day 2: Arts, Literature, and Quiet Corners

When in Paraty, you can’t skip the arts and culture.

The city has been home to great writers and painters for decades. It has also been hosting the Paraty International Literary Festival (FLIP) since 2003.

I like to alternate between heavier and calmer days so I don’t end up dead. So you can sleep in a bit on day two if you’d like. We’re starting at 10 AM.

Casa Cultura: Paraty’s Cultural Museum

The city’s main museum, Casa Cultura’s name translates directly to “Culture House.”

Here at Casa Cultura, you can enjoy collections of artworks from Paraty natives as well as learn a ton about the city’s history and local culture.

I must have spent at least 2-3 hours in that little house, but only because I was trying to read everything in Portuguese for the sake of practice.

This brings me to the next point… Have your Google Translate camera ready. Everything is in Portuguese. A normal visit reading in English shouldn’t take you longer than an hour or so.

• Museum Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Closed on Sundays and Mondays)
• Location: R. Dona Geralda, 194 – Centro Histórico, Paraty – RJ, 23970-000

Local Lunch at Restaurante Vinicius Paraty

While evading the more mainstream streets and restaurants, I stumbled upon this cozy little place on the corner of a secluded alleyway, Restaurante Vinicius Paraty.

The interior design is lovely and the staff were super friendly too.

This place also makes amazing Jorge Amado, which you also shouldn’t miss, the local cocktail menu made with the Gabriela cachaça.

• Saturday Hours: 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM, 6:00 PM – 10:30 PM
• Closed on Mondays and only open for dinner from 4 PM on other weekdays
• Location: Rua da Matriz, R. Mal. Santos Dias – Centro Histórico, Paraty – RJ, 23970-000
• Recommended Menu: Lula Recheada, Jorge Amado

Afternoon Coffee at a Historic Bookstore Café

Spending a slow afternoon in Livraria de Paraty is a mood. I accidentally found this old bookstore while exploring the quiet streets on the first morning.

The place seems like it has jumped straight out of some old hand-drawn Disney Short.

Small tables with a chess set on them, bookshelves, rustic stone walls, and the afternoon light shining into the window. You get the idea.

Take out your favorite book, order a cup of coffee, and sit here for a bit. Don’t forget to check out their collection of postcards. They mostly feature hand-drawn artwork from local artists!

• Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
• Location: R. Dr. Pereira, 254 – Centro Histórico, Paraty – RJ, 23970-000

Watch A World-Class Puppet Show at Teatro Espaço

Teatro Espaço is home to Grupo Contadores de Estórias, world-class puppet masters who have been featured in publications worldwide, including the New York Times.

You get to see them perform here in Paraty!

The process is simple. Head to the theater before dinner and grab yourself a ticket, then come back no later than 8:45 PM to watch the show.

They’re insanely punctual and will not let you in after the show starts.

NOTE: The shows are open to ages 14+ only.

• Show Dates and Times: Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9:00 PM (1-hour show)
• Ticket Price: $R55 (US$9)
• Location: R. Dona Geralda, 42 – Centro Histórico, Paraty – RJ, 23970-000

Day 3: Nature and Beaches

I’m offering two options for your last day in Paraty. The first tour is what I took, and the second one is what I wished I could take, but it got cancelled because of rainy weather.

Option 1: Take a Boat Tour to Trindade’s Beaches

People never stop talking about the Escuna Schooner Tours when it comes to beach hopping in Paraty. Don’t believe them.

Schooner tours are mostly about the drinks on board a party boat and less about the beaches. Although you can get some peace and quiet because people are there to relax, it’s not ideal.

The Escuna route also doesn’t feature many stunning beaches.

Instead, I recommend Trindade! This former fishing village south of Paraty has the most gorgeous beaches and fewer tourists. It’s a great way to wrap up your weekend.

This tour includes air-conditioned transportation from Paraty. It runs from 9 AM to about 3 PM.

Option 2: Saco do Mamanguá Fjord Tour

If you’re more of a mountains-and-lakes person than a beach person, consider this tour into the only fjord in South America instead. This tour goes from 11 AM to 5 PM.

I’ve heard tall tales about Saco do Mamanguá. Regardless of how you see it, from a boat below or from a hiking viewpoint above, it’s supposed to be breathtaking.

Unfortunately, my boat tour got canceled due to unsafe weather conditions. 😭 If you’re luckier than I was, maybe you can come back and tell me how beautiful it really is.

Farewell Stroll Through the Flooded Streets

After the tours, say goodbye to Paraty by strolling around its cobblestoned streets one last time. Depending on how much time you have before your bus ride, you might get to have another meal here. I didn’t…

The photo below is another famous sight in Paraty. It’s called Fire Street or Rua do Fogo.

3 Days in Paraty: Itinerary Map

📌 Save this pinned map to your phone for easier navigation when you go. You can toggle the filters to find places planned for each day, too.

Where to Stay in Paraty

I recommend staying in the Historic Center (Centro Histórico), but avoid staying too far out from the action. A place closer to the west end of the area would be perfect.

I stayed on the far east side, closer to the water, and my solo walks to and from the guesthouse felt a bit spooky when there was no one else around. Wouldn’t recommend to anyone.

A drunk old man was laughing and following me for a few blocks on the second morning. While he didn’t do anything crazy, it wasn’t pleasant.

How to Get to Paraty

Paraty has no commercial airport, so the best way to get there is by bus from nearby cities.

Luckily, the town is right between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, two must-visit cities in Brazil. You can easily integrate this little cultural gem into your plans.

From Rio de Janeiro to Paraty

There are buses from the Novo Rio terminal directly to Rodoviário de Paraty. The trip takes around 5-6 hours, depending on the time of day and traffic conditions.

From São Paulo to Paraty

Buses leave from the Tietê bus terminal and go directly to Rodoviário de Paraty. The trip takes around 6.5 hours.

How to Get Around Paraty

The Paraty Historic Center is very small and walkable, so you can easily get anywhere on foot. My walk from the Bus Terminal to the city center took only 15 minutes.

To get to some attractions in the surrounding areas, like Cachaça distilleries and waterfalls, you’ll need to call an Uber or take the public bus that goes to Penha. The bus leaves from the main terminal (Rodoviário de Paraty) and can drop you off at “Tobogã.” Have $R5 ready for the ride.

At Tobogã, you can visit Cachoeira do Tobogã and Alambique Engenho D’Ouro. Once you’re done, simply wait on the opposite side of the road where you were dropped off to catch the bus back.

Planning More of Your Brazil Trip?

Another weekend trip I took and thoroughly enjoyed was to Iguazu Falls, both the Argentinian and Brazilian sides. That’s even more doable than Paraty as a weekend trip!

Before arriving in Brazil, don’t forget to check out the Brazilian cultural tips and learn how to stay safe in the country.

Other Helpful Travel Resources for Brazil

• Make sure you protect your trip with a travel insurance.
• Get this eSIM for local data without giving up your number.
• Must-have Apps: Google Maps, Uber, WhatsApp

As a bonus, grab a copy below of the template I created and personally use to plan my own trips. It’s completely free for you!

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